Men's Soccer

Tech Turns in Gutsy Performance, But Falls to Amherst, 1-0

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Engineers (3-3-0; 0-1 NEWMAC) weathered a barrage of shots from a potent Amherst attack throughout Wednesday's contest at Steinbrenner Stadium, but the Cardinal and Gray weren't able to hold off the Jeffs (4-0-0) quite long enough, falling 1-0 on a 65th minute goal by Rob Madden. The loss marked the first time that MIT have been defeated at home in the 2006 campaign.

The undefeated and untied Jeffs entered the game having out-shot their opponents by a margin of 50-20, and that gap would grow wider still as the match against the Engineers progressed. By game's end, Amherst had out-shot MIT by a stunning 26-3.

Yet, Tech stayed in the game thanks in large part to the remarkable play of sophomore goalkeeper Tom Caldwell. The East Berlin, Pa. native was stellar between the pipes, making a season-high eight saves, several of which were of the spectacular variety. With the score still knotted at zero in the 53rd minute, Caldwell needed to be at full stretch to deny a point blank shot from Amherst's Mike Wohl.

The Engineers nearly stole a lead late in the first half, but Alex Morgan's rocket-shot curled high and wide.

Tech's resolve was finally broken following a scramble in the box midway through the second half. Wohl ultimately played the ball across the face of the goal for Madden to smash home from inside the six-yard box, leaving Caldwell helpless.

With the loss, MIT's run of futility against Amherst continues. The Engineers are winless against the Jeffs since 1971.

The Cardinal and Gray next take the field on Saturday, Sept. 23 when it hosts NEWMAC rival Wheaton in a match that kicks off at 10:30 a.m. Amherst puts its undefeated record on the line that same day when it hosts NESCAC foe Tufts at 11:00 a.m.